Trivalent Chromium Plating

Have you checked with these people?

here you go: This is a nice shop.

http://www.erieviewmetal.com/services/

milo

See this article - Hex chrome in decorative applications is still OK at the moment - even in Europe. (But watch out where chromate coversion coatings are concerned) http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/z1/view.asp?id=70191

Jake, you don't mention whether you're seeking trivalent chromium for heavy, industrial chrome (hard) or thin, flash chrome (decorative). If you're seeking industrial hard chrome, you're not going to find any suitable trivalent chrome platers at this time. However, there are many shops plating decorative trivalent chromium. The city of Los Angeles banned hexavalent chromium plating many years ago, and there are many finishers doing trivalent chromium in that area because they're forced to.

Joe, this is going to be an industrial coat, meant for protection, not decoration. Most of what I am finding suggests that trivalent is mainly decorative, as you mentioned. Is there another alternative out there that will act like hexavalent but get around the various bans in existance or soon to exist?

Like I said, Erieview is licensed to provide various tri valent coatings. also non chrome coatings, Trivalent chromates (with and without sealer/topcoat), organic dip spin coatings (chrome free) lead free paint, and various alternative metallic alloys.

They are licensed for Elisha Technologies LLc.'s Electrolytic Mineral coating which is based on silicate chemistry. Essentially the surface of the metal is changed by a build up of silicate in metal lattice. New surface is more mineral than metal, but polymerized by multiple metal bonds between the metal and the silicte to form protection barrier against corrosion.

Sharperizing is also available from them, It is the treatment being used on the corvette grills & on some exposed hummer and SUV parts like roof racks. Sharperize comes in three chrome free versions- black, clear, and yellow /iridescent.

(hope I spelled that right.)

Trivalent will cost more for obvious and not so obvious reasons including: They're just more expensive; Transition costs and lower economy of scale, Need for much closer control of pH and concentration (hourly, not daily!) Can't rely on visual (appearance) checks, Additional tanks needed for top coats, really need an Atomic absorption unit to keep the process under control.

Call erieview. No i don;'t work for them, but I have referred many of my clients to them.

milo

Thanks Milo!

I've emailed off to Erieview and handed their info over to our purchasing. Looking over their site, it looks like they might be what we need as far as an alternative. And, with them being in Cleveland, they're not too far from us. Better than dealing with someone overseas or across the country for something new!

Great!

milo

We are a company dealing machine part in China.Maybe we can cooperate. Please tell me your address and details about the parts. henryzhang1@hotmail.com

Look up Anoplate Corporation in Syracuse, NY

Excellent recommendation from Milo. A word of caution however.

Jake, whether your purchasing people speak to Erieview or whoever, that supplier will only be able to guide your company correctly if the part's full application is described. The size of part, quantity, stock material, environment, mechanical requirements, OEM specifications that must be met etc. There are many companies purporting to have hexavalent chrome-free coatings and indeed they may be. But these coatings usually have some trade-offs in terms of properties.

Hex chrome has been on regulators' hit lists for a very long time, and yet, many, many companies continue to require it and are very happy with it. Where people get confused is when they become aware of the ELV, RoHS or WEEE directives from Europe. Those directives don't apply to every manufactured part in the world. So some research is required. If you're interested in more info, there is an international conference and show in Cleveland, OH this week with plenty of answers. Check out http://www.nasf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=SUR_FIN&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2692 for more info.

Hi Jake

In Canada we have been dealing with the change over from Hex to Tri extensively, over the last 6 years.

The infrastructure has almost phased out the Hex lines and now offer Zinc Tri with quite good performance in rust protection and even color options.

If you are interested I have been working with barrel and rack lines that could accommodate your product for competitive pricing.

I currently work extensively in the OEM automotive but with the infrastructure changes am getting inquiry's on hardware and other components.

You can contact me at blackracingdesigns@gmail.com if your are interested.

Thanks

Rob Black

I use plated balls for ball valves. I recently switched from decorative nickel/chrome to an electroless nickel. Excellent results so far. If you require a hard outer surface. the EN can be specified to provide it. The EN does not suffer from discontinuities that are prevalent in decorative chrome.